Ronald Reagan Strike Group Concludes Keen Sword 2019

Keen Sword is a biennial exercise in a series of joint/bilateral field training exercises since 1980 designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability of U.S. force and the Japan Self-Defense Force (SDF).

Philippine Sea ─ (NNS) ─ 9 November 2018. The Ronald Reagan Strike Group finished exercise Keen Sword 2019 with units from the U.S. Air Force, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force on November 8th.

Philippine Sea (Nov. 8, 2018) The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), left, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga (DDH 181), right, are underway in formation with 16 other ships from the U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) during Keen Sword 19. Keen Sword is a joint, bilateral field-training exercise involving U.S. military and JMSDF personnel, designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability of the Japan-U.S. alliance -- U.S. Navy photo by MCS2 Kaila V. Peters. -

During the exercise, the Ronald Reagan Strike Group conducted several events over 13 days with the JMSDF including logistics exchanges, replenishments-at-sea, senior leadership engagements, air-defense exercises, anti-submarine warfare exercises and a three day war-at-sea exercise.

Philippine Sea (Nov. 2, 2018) An F/A-18F Super Hornet launches from the flight deck of the forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during exercise Keen Sword 19. Keen Sword is a joint, bilateral field-training exercise involving U.S. military and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel, designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability of the Japan-U.S. alliance -- U.S. Navy photo by MCS3 MacAdam Kane Weissman. -

“Keen Sword 2019 was a great opportunity to work with a country that has a well disciplined and highly motivated maritime force,” said Cmdr. Kevin Lucas, the Commander, Task Force (CTF) 70 lead planner for Keen Sword 2019.

Philippine Sea (Nov. 3, 2018) Members of the Japanese media take photos of flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during exercise Keen Sword 19. Keen Sword is a joint, bilateral field-training exercise involving U.S. military and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel, designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability of the Japan-U.S. alliance -- U.S. Navy photo by MCS1 Richard L.J. Gourley. -

During Keen Sword 2019, the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) hosted Rear Adm. Hiroshi Egawa, Commander, Escort Flotilla One and his staff, who acted as naval liaisons to increase the interoperability of the two maritime forces for the sea portion of Keen Sword.

“Although our maritime forces operate differently, Keen Sword 2019 gave us the capability to integrate our strike group with our JMSDF counterparts,” said Lucas.

Philippine Sea (Nov. 1, 2018) Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 5, fast rope from an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) 12, aboard the forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during exercise Keen Sword 19. Keen Sword is a joint, bilateral field-training exercise involving U.S. military and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel, designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability of the Japan-U.S. alliance -- U.S. Navy photo by MCS3 Erwin Jacob V. Miciano. -

Approximately 10,000 U.S. service members from commands such U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Force Japan, 7th Fleet, 5th Air Force, 374th Airlift Wing, 18th Wing, 35th Fighter Wing and III Marine Expeditionary Force took part.

Philippine Sea (Nov. 5, 2018) Sailors update flight schedule trackers aboard the Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during exercise Keen Sword 19. Keen Sword is a joint, bilateral field-training exercise involving U.S. military and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel, designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability of the Japan-U.S. alliance -- U.S. Navy photo by MCS3 Kyleigh Williams. -

Keen Sword is a biennial exercise in a series of joint/bilateral field training exercises since 1980 designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability of U.S. force and the Japan Self-Defense Force.

Philippine Sea (Nov. 2, 2018) Operations Specialist 1st Class Jose Cartagena, from Flowery Branch, Ga., monitors his workstation in the combat direction center aboard the Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during exercise Keen Sword 19, Nov. 2, 2018. Keen Sword is a joint, bilateral field-training exercise involving U.S. military and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel, designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability of the Japan-U.S. alliance -- U.S. Navy photo by MCS3 Kyleigh Williams. -

The Ronald Reagan Strike Group is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

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